Automobile.



G. BERG.

AUTOMOBILE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 14, 1908.

945,365. Patented Jan. 4, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

, carried within the armature by the station- .formed in integralrelation, and the rim de- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

onaatas BERG, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

Specification 01' Letters Patent.

Application filed March 14,

Patented Jan. 4, 1910. 1908. Serial No. 421,031.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES BERG, of Philadelphia, in the county ofPhiladelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new anduseful Improvement in Automobiles, whereof the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

y improvement relates to an electrically propelled automobile of thetype comprising a road wheel having a driving motor in its hub, and itis an object of my invention to provide such a motor wheel capable ofoperation in either direction'at variable speed and without sparking atthe commutator.

In the form of my invention hereinafter described, the motor armature isa Gramme ring which is carried by the vehicle wheel, and the field is ofthe interpolar type and aryaxle upon. which the vehicle wheel is mountedto rotate. Said motor field comprises main polar projections andauxiliary polar projections which are included in separate circuitsrespectively ,in shunt and series relation to the armature windings andmeans are provided to adjustably vary the current in said main fieldcircuit independently of the current in the auxiliary field circuit. Themain'field being weakened in accordance with increase in speed ofrotation of the armature, weakening of the field of commutation isprevented, the auxiliary polar projections producing the requiredcompensatory' field of commutation, independently of the main field,and, consequently, said armature and the vehicle wheel which carries it,may be rotated in either direction at variable speed without sparking atthe commutator.

My invention comprises the various novel features of construction andarrangement hereinafter more definitely specified.

In the drawings; Figure I, is a vertical sectional view of a vehiclewheel and axle conveniently embodying my improvement. Fig; II, is anelevation of the outer face of said wheel with the motor casing capremoved.

In said drawings; the'vehicle wheel comprises the rim 1, spokes 2,annular motor casing 3, and hub 4. As indicated, said spokes, casing andhub are conveniently tachably secured to said spokes by the bolts 6,extending through the spoke flanges 7. l

, Said wheel is mounted to rotate on an axle which may be attached tothe vehicle, in any convenient manner, so that it cannot rotate.

As shown in Fig. I, the axle is conveniently formed of two rigidlyconnected cylindrical steel tubes 8, and 9, the latter having the key10, engaging the keyway 11, in the removable sleeve 12, which is thusprevented from turning on said axle. Said sleeve 12, carries theoppositely inclined roller bearing rings 13, and 14, which are opposedto the roller bearing rings 15, and 16, in said hub 4, so that saidwheel may turn freely on the conical rollers 17, and 18, which areinterposed between said bearin rings. Said roller bearings may beadjusted by rotating the nut 20, on the inner end of said sleeve 12,and, when adjusted, said nut 20, is prevented from turning by the nut21, which is rotated on the axle tube 9, until the washer 24, sleeve 12,and nut 20, are I forced inwardly and the latter binds upon the ,collar25, which is secured in rigid relation with the axle tubes 8 and 9. Saidsleeve 12, supports in stationary rigid relation with said axle, themotor field frame which comprises thehollow cylindrical tube 26, rigidlyconnected by the bolts 27, with the flange 28, on said sleeve 12. Saidtube 26, is provided with theradial main polar projections 29, andauxiliary polar projections 30, which are presented within and inoperative relation with the Gramme ring armature comprising the annularcore 31,and windings 32. Said armature windings 32,are connected in anyconvenient manner with the segments 33, of the commutator whichcomprises the opposed annular frame members 34, and 35, which aremaintained in separable relation by the screws 36, and maintained indetachable rigid relation with the wheel by the bolts 38. Said fieldframe 26, supports the brush frame 40, which, as shown in Fig. II,comprises a s lit ring which may be adjustably clampe on said frame 26,by the bolt 41. Said frame 40, also comprises the four radial arms 42,having the studs 43, which support the brush holders 44, comprising therectangular tubes 45, through which the carbon block brushes 46, arepresented in contact with the armature segments 33,- under pressure ofthe rocker arms 48, which are pivoted at 49, in said brush holders 44.Said arms 48, are pressed upon said blocks 46, by the springs 51, theouter ends of which may be selectively engaged with any one of thenotches 52, to adjustably vary the pressure of contact of the brushes46, on the commutator. Said motor casing 3, is provided with theremovable cap 53, detachably secured thereon by the bolts 54;, and itmay be observed that upon removal of said cap 53, all of the elements ofthe motor are accessible to the operator without removing the wheel fromthe axle. Moreover, the whole wheel with its roller bearings may beinstantly removed from the axle when the nut 21, is

, removed.

It is to be understood that suitable wiring connections for said motormay extend through the hollow axle to a controller and storage batteryin the vehicle. As indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 11, the main fieldcoils 55, are connected in series relation with a resistance 56, whichmay be varied by movement of the lever 57, with respect to the contacts58, and said main field coils 55, are in shunt relation with thearmature windings 32. The auxiliary field coils 60, are included in aseparate circuit in series relation with each other and with saidarmature windings 32, and said circuit includes the double pole switch52, whereby the direction of the current may be reversed with respect tosaid auxiliary field and armature to reverse the rotation of the latter.

I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of constructionand arrangement above described, as it is obvious that variousmodifications may be made therein without departing from the essentialfea-v tures of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim l. The combination with a vehicle wheel; of an annular armatureand an annular commutator carried by said wheel in rigid relationtherewith; a stationary axle upon which said wheel is mounted to rotate;a field comprising a series of polar projections extending within saidarmature; and, means distinct from said axle and including a sleevecarried by the wheel maintaining said :mature, commutator and field incooperative relation; whereby said wheel may be removed from said axlewithout disturbing the relation of: said cooperative elements.

2. The combination with a vehicle wheel, of an annular armature and anannular commutator carried by said wheel in rigid relation therewith; astationary axle, upon which said wheel is mounted to rotate; two fieldscomprising alternate series of polar projections extending within saidarmature; and, means distinct from said axle and including a sleevecarried by the wheel maintaining said armature, commutator and field incooperative relation; whereby said wheel may be removed from said axlewithout disturbing the relation of said cooperative elements.

3. The combination with a vehicle wheel, of a Gramme ring armaturecarried by said wheel in rigid relation therewith; a commutatoroperatively connected with said armature and also carried by said Wheel;a field carried by said axle within said armature, comprising main polarprojections, and auxiliary polar projections interposed between saidmain polar projections; coils respectively arranged to energize saidmain polar projections and auxiliary polar projections; and, meansdistinct from said axle and including a sleeve carried by the wheelmaintaining said armature, commutator and field in cooperative relation;whereby said wheel may be removed from said axle without disturbing therelation of said cooperative elements.

4. The combination with a vehicle wheel; of a Gramme ring armaturecarried by said wheel in rigid relation therewith; a commutatoroperatively connected with said armature and also carried by said wheel;a field carried by said axle within said armature, comprising main polarprojections, and auxiliary polar projections, interposed between saidmain polar projections; coils respectively arranged to energize saidmain polar projections and auxiliary polar projections; means connectingsaid main field coils in shunt relation to the armature windings; meansconnecting said auxiliary field coils in series relation to the armaturewindings; means arranged to adjustably vary the strength of the currentin said main field independently of said auxiliary field; and, meansdistinct from said axle and including a sleeve carried by the wheelmaintaining said armature, commutator and field in cooperative relation;-whereby said wheel may be removed from said axle without disturbingthe relation of said cooperative elements. A

5. The combination with a vehicle wheel; ofa Gramrne ring armature andcommutator for the same; means detachably rigidly connecting saidarmature and commutator with said wheel; a stationary axle upon whichsaid wheel is mounted to rotate; a

stationary field comprising a circular series of polar projectionsrigidly connected with said axle and presented in operative relationwith said armature within the latter; a motor casing carried by saidwheel inclosing said armature and field; and, means distinct from saidaxle and including a sleeve carried by ture, commutator and field incooperative relation; whereby said wheel may be removed from said axlewithout disturbing the relation of said cooperative elements.

6. The combination with a vehicle wheel;

the wheel maintaining said armain operative relation with saidcommutator Within the latter; and, means distinct from said axle andincluding a sleeve carried by the Wheel maintaining said armature, com-.

mutator and field in 006 erative relation; whereby said wheel may eremoved from said axle Without disturbing the relation of saidcooperative elements.

.In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Phlladelphia,Pennsyl- Vania, this twelfth day of March, 1908.

CHARLES BERG.

Witnesses:

F. R. SHATTUCK, A. J. DOTY.

